Mobile terminal having touch screen and function controlling method of the same

ABSTRACT

A mobile terminal having a touch screen and a method of controlling functions in the mobile terminal are disclosed. The mobile terminal includes a touch screen including a touch panel to detect a drag and drop generated on a function execution screen and a display unit to display the function execution screen, a control unit to control the display unit to display of at least one control interaction guide to guide a control command to be executed on the function execution screen in response to a request to display the control interaction guide, to determine the control command corresponding to a drag generated on the function execution, and to execute a function corresponding to the determined control command on the function execution screen, and a memory unit to store the control command to be executed on the function execution screen and the control interaction guide to be displayed on the function execution screen.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from and the benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2007-0133866, filed on Dec. 20, 2007, which is herebyincorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a mobile terminal and, moreparticularly, to a method of controlling a function of a mobileterminal, which has a touch screen to provide an interaction guidethereon.

2. Discussion of the Background

Advances in information and communication technologies have enabled amobile terminal to perform multi-functions. For example, in addition tocall processing, an advanced mobile terminal may support varioussupplementary functions such as a camera function, Digital MultimediaBroadcasting (DMB), and a Bluetooth® function.

The mobile terminal may include an input unit, such as a keypad, toinput control commands to control a variety of functions, however, itmay be inconvenient for a user to manipulate the keypad with his/herfinger because the keypad may be relatively small compared to his/herfinger. Therefore, a mobile terminal may be provided with a touch screeninstead of a keypad. However, a user using the mobile terminal having atouch screen may have difficulty in controlling various functions if theuser is not familiar with processes of performing a function when afunction is to be performed, which may result in unnecessary multipletouches of the touch screen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a mobile terminal having a touch screenand a method of controlling a function thereof that may enable a user tocontrol a variety of functions with ease.

Additional features of the invention will be set forth in thedescription which follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

The present invention discloses a method of controlling a function of amobile terminal having a touch screen. The method includes displaying afunction execution screen on the touch screen, displaying a controlinteraction guide on the function execution screen in response to arequest to display the control interaction guide, the controlinteraction guide to guide at least one control command to be executedon the function execution screen, determining a control commandcorresponding to a drag if the drag is detected on the touch screen, andexecuting a function corresponding to the control command on thefunction execution screen.

The present invention also discloses a mobile terminal including a touchscreen including a touch panel to detect a drag and drop generated onthe function execution screen and a display unit to display a functionexecution screen, a control unit to control the display unit to displayof a control interaction guide to guide at least one control command tobe executed on the function execution screen in response to a request todisplay the control interaction guide, to determine a control commandcorresponding to a drag generated on the function execution screen, andto execute a function corresponding to the control command on thefunction execution screen, and a memory unit to store the controlcommand to be executed on the function execution screen and the controlinteraction guide to be displayed on the function execution screen.

The present invention also discloses a method of controlling a functionof a mobile terminal having a touch screen including displaying afunction execution screen on the touch screen, searching for a storedcontrol interaction guide if an approach is detected, displaying thestored control interaction guide if the stored control interaction guideexists, stopping the display of the control interaction guide if a touchon the display control interaction guide is detected, calculating dragcharacteristic values when a drag is detected, determining a controlcommand corresponding to the drag characteristic values, and executing afunction corresponding to the control command.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a mobile terminal having a touch screento perform a function according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a method of performing a function of amobile terminal according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 3C, FIG. 3D, and FIG. 3E are screenrepresentations showing the procedure of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a method of performing a function of amobile terminal according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

The invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown.This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms andshould not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure isthorough, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to thoseskilled in the art. In the drawings, the size and relative sizes oflayers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. Like referencenumerals in the drawings denote like elements.

It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to asbeing “on” or “connected to” another element or layer, it can bedirectly on or directly connected to the other element or layer, orintervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when anelement is referred to as being “directly on” or “directly connected to”another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layerspresent.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the term “functionexecution screen” refers to a displayed screen of a mobile terminal whena particular function is performed. The term “control command” refers toa control command to perform a sub-function that is to be performedthrough the function execution screen when a particular function isperformed. Such a control command may be, for example a zoom-in commandor a zoom-out command when performing a camera function, or a volumecontrol command or a playback command of a previous file or next filewhen performing an audio function. Herein, the control command may be acommand to move to an upper-level menu or a lower-level menu or to anext menu of the same level. The control command may be performed inresponse to a user manipulation.

The term “control interaction guide” refers to a display image thatguides control commands to be executed on a function execution screen ofa mobile terminal. At this time, either none or at least one controlinteraction guide may be present according to a function executionscreen. The control interaction guide may further include a directionimage that shows a direction in which a user should move to manipulatecorresponding control commands. Also, the control interaction guide mayfurther include a symbol image that indicates corresponding controlcommands.

The term “touch” refers to an action in which a user contacts a touchscreen using a touch device, typically a stylus or a finger. The term“drag” refers to an action in which a user moves the touch device alongthe touch screen. The term “drop” refers to an action in which a userreleases a touch device contacting the touch screen from the touchscreen.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a mobile terminal 100 according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention. For the purpose of thefollowing description, the mobile terminal 100 is embodied as a mobilephone.

Referring to FIG. 1, the mobile terminal 100 includes a wireless unit110, a touch screen 120, a proximity sensor 130, a memory unit 140, acontrol unit 150, and an audio processor 160.

The wireless communication unit 110 performs wireless communicationoperations for the mobile terminal 100. The wireless unit 110 includes aradio frequency (RF) transmitter to upconvert the frequency of a signalto be transmitted and amplify the signal, and an RF receiver tolow-noise amplify a received signal and downconvert the frequency of thereceived signal.

The touch screen 120 includes a display unit 121 and a touch panel 123.The display unit 121 displays a state of the mobile terminal 100. Thedisplay unit 121 may include an LCD, and in this case includes an LCDcontrol unit, a memory to story display data, and an LCD displayelement. The touch panel 123 may be mounted on or integral with thedisplay unit 121 and may include a touch sensor and a signal converter.The touch sensor detects control commands of a touch, a drag, and a dropfrom a change in magnitude of a physical parameter, such as pressure oranother force, or a change in magnitude of an electrical parameter, suchas capacitance or resistance. The signal converter converts the changein the magnitude of the physical or electrical parameter into a touchsignal.

The proximity sensor 130 detects a presence of objects near to the touchscreen 120 without any physical contact. The proximity sensor 130detects, for instance, a variation of a temperature or luminousintensity. Herein, at least one proximity sensor 130 may be installed onthe rear of the display unit 121 and on a side of the display unit 121.When a single proximity sensor 130 is installed, the proximity sensor130 may be located to detect the movement of a user's hand toward themobile terminal.

The memory unit 140 includes a program memory section and a data memorysection. The program memory section stores programs of control commandsto control the mobile terminal 100 and programs to perform a functionusing the touch screen 123 according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. The data memory section stores data generated duringthe execution of a program of the mobile terminal 100. The memory unit140 stores a control command to be executed on each function executionscreen according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.Further, the memory unit 140 stores a control interaction guide forguiding a control command according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

The control unit 150 controls the overall operation of the mobileterminal 100. The control unit 150 performs a signal processing functionto encode and modulate a signal to be transmitted, and to demodulate anddecode a received signal. The control unit 150 may include amodulator/demodulator (modem) and a coder/decoder (codec).

In particular, the control unit 150 controls display of a functionexecution screen when executing a function according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention. Further, the control unit 150controls the display unit 121 to display a control interaction guide onthe function execution screen by retrieving the control interactionguide from the memory unit 140 in response to a user request to displaythe control interaction guide while displaying the function executionscreen. Herein, the control unit 150 may recognize an approach to thetouch screen 120 through a proximity sensor 130 as a request to displaya control interaction guide.

The control unit 150 may remove a control interaction guide from thefunction execution screen if an occurrence of a touch on the touchscreen 120 is detected while the control interaction guide is beingdisplayed. Further, the control unit 120 may remove a controlinteraction guide from the function execution screen if a time periodfor displaying the guide elapses while the control interaction guide isbeing displayed. In addition, the control unit 150 controls the mobilephone by detecting a control command corresponding to a drag if the dragis detected on the touch screen 120.

The audio processor 160 reproduces an audio signal from an audio codecthrough a speaker SPK, and transmits an audio signal from a microphoneMIC to the audio codec.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a method of performing a function of amobile terminal according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 3C, FIG. 3D, and FIG. 3E are screenrepresentations showing processes of performing a function according tothe method of FIG. 2. Specifically, FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 3C, FIG. 3D,and FIG. 3E are screen representations when a camera function isperformed. In detail, FIG. 3A shows a touch screen when a particularfunction is to be performed. FIG. 3B shows the touch screen when anapproach to the touch screen is detected. FIG. 3C shows the touch screenwhen a drag is detected on the touch screen. FIG. 3D shows the touchscreen when a drop is detected on the touch screen. FIG. 3E shows thetouch screen after the function is performed.

Referring to FIG. 2, a function execution screen is displayed on thetouch screen 120 (S211) when a function is to be performed, as shown inFIG. 3A. For example, the control unit 150 may display a functionexecution screen as a preview screen when performing a camera function.If the control unit 150 detects an approach to the touch screen 120(S213), the control unit 150 searches for a control interaction guidecorresponding to the displayed function execution screen stored in thememory unit 140 (S215).

The control unit 150 determines if a control interaction guide to bedisplayed on the function execution screen exists (S217). In otherwords, the control unit 150 determines if a control command to beexecuted on the function execution screen corresponding to a functionexecution screen exists. If the control unit 150 determines that acontrol interaction guide stored in a memory unit 140 exists, thecontrol unit 150 displays the control interaction guide (S219), as shownin FIG. 3B. For example, the control unit 150 may display a controlinteraction guide to guide a control command to be performed on thepreview screen such as a zoom-in command, a zoom-out command, abrightness command, or a shot command.

If the control unit 150 detects a touch on the touch screen 120 (S221),the control unit 150 removes the control interaction guide from thefunction execution screen (S223), as shown in FIG. 3C.

If the control unit 150 detects a drag generated on the touch screen 120(S225), the control unit determines changes of the drag coordinates andcalculates values of drag characteristics therefrom (S227). For example,the control unit 150 calculates the distance, direction, and velocity ofthe drag. Next, the control unit 150 determines a control command to beexecuted on the function execution screen corresponding to thecalculated drag characteristic values and executes a functioncorresponding to the determined control command (S229), as shown in FIG.3D. For example, if the distance of the drag is X pixels, and thedirection of the drag is upward, the control unit enlarges the previewscreen by Y times (where Y=MX, M is a constant number).

The memory unit 140 may store a control command to be executedcorresponding to specific drag characteristic values in advance. Thecontrol unit 150 may further display the calculated drag characteristicvalues on the function execution screen (not shown).

If the control unit 150 detects a drop generated on the touch screen 120(S231), the control unit 150 terminates the function executionprocedure, as shown in FIG. 3E. When the drop is detected, the controlunit 150 may further control to perform functions determining a controlcommand to be executed on the function execution screen corresponding tothe drop and a subsequent touch (not shown in FIG. 2). If a drop is notdetected through the touch screen 120 at step S231, the process returnsto step S225 and the control unit 150 may repeat steps S225 to S231.

If a drop is detected at step S231, the control unit 150 may furtherdetermine a control command to be executed on the function executionscreen corresponding to the touch and drop (not shown in FIG. 2).

In the exemplary embodiments, a control interaction guide is displayedwhen an approach to a touch screen is detected while a functionexecution screen of a mobile terminal is being displayed. However, thepresent invention is not limited thereto. For example, exemplaryembodiments of the present invention can be realized by displayingvarious interaction guides in response to approaching differentpositions of a touch screen while displaying a function executionscreen. In addition, the present invention can be realized by detectinga request to display a control interaction guide while a functionexecution guide of a mobile terminal is being displayed. For example, ifa touch or a drop is detected on a touch screen while a controlinteraction guide is being displayed on a function execution screen of amobile terminal, the touch or drop may be regarded as a request todisplay a control interaction guide.

In the exemplary embodiments, a control interaction guide is removedwhen a touch is detected while a control interaction guide is beingdisplayed on the function execution screen of a mobile terminal.However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Exemplaryembodiments of the present invention may be realized by detecting arequest to remove a control interaction guide from a function executionscreen of a mobile terminal. For example, a display period to displayvarious control interaction guides may be stored in a memory unit of amobile terminal. If the preset display period of a control interactionguide elapses while the control interaction guide is being displayed ona function execution screen of a mobile terminal, the elapse of thepreset display period may be regarded as a request to remove the controlinteraction guide from the function execution screen.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, whenexecuting a function of a mobile terminal, a control command to beexecuted on a function execution screen may be guided by displaying acontrol interaction guide corresponding to the control command on afunction execution screen. Thereby, a user of a mobile terminal maymanipulate various functions of the mobile terminal conveniently.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a method of performing a function of amobile terminal according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. In this exemplary embodiment, a detailed explanation of aconfiguration of a mobile terminal is omitted, as the configuration of amobile terminal in this exemplary embodiment is similar to theconfiguration of a mobile terminal in the exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention shown in FIG. 1, except that the mobile terminal ofthe present exemplary embodiment may not include a proximity sensor.

Referring to FIG. 4, a function execution screen is displayed on thetouch screen 120 when a function is to be performed (S411). If thecontrol unit 150 detects a touch on the touch screen 120 (S413), thecontrol unit 150 searches for a control interaction guide correspondingto the touch on the displayed function execution screen stored in thememory 140.

If the control unit 150 determines that a control interaction guide tobe displayed on a function execution screen exists (S417), the controlunit 150 displays the control interaction guide (S419).

If the control unit 150 detects a drag generated on the touch screen 120(S421), the control unit 150 removes the control interaction guide fromthe function execution screen (S423). The control unit 150 determineschanges of the drag coordinates and calculates values of dragcharacteristics therefrom (S425). For example, the control unit 150calculates the distance, direction, and velocity of the drag. Thecontrol unit 150 then determines a control command to be executed on thefunction execution screen corresponding to the calculated dragcharacteristic values and executes a function corresponding to thedetermined control command (S427). Herein, a control commandcorresponding to specific drag characteristic values may be stored inthe memory unit 140 in advance. The control unit 150 may further displaythe calculated drag characteristic values corresponding to the controlcommand on the function execution screen (not shown).

If the control unit 150 detects a drop generated on the touch screen 120(S429), the control unit 150 terminates the function executionprocedure. If a drop is not detected through the touch screen 120 atstep S429, the control unit 150 may repeat steps S421 to S429.

When the drop is detected, the control unit 150 may further control themobile terminal 100 to perform functions determining a control commandto be executed on the function execution screen corresponding to thedrop and a subsequent touch (not shown in FIG. 4). If a drop is notdetected through the touch screen 120 at step S429, the process returnsto step S421 and the control unit 150 may repeat the S421 to S429.

A method of detecting a control interaction guide while a controlinteraction guide is being displayed on a function execution screen isdescribed in this exemplary embodiment, but the present invention is notlimited thereto. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention may berealized by displaying various interaction guides in response toapproaching different positions of a touch screen while a functionexecution screen is being displayed.

A method of removing a control interaction guide from a functionexecution screen is described in this exemplary embodiment, but thepresent invention is not limited thereto. Exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention may be implemented by detecting a request to remove acontrol interaction guide from a function execution screen. For example,a display period to display a specific interaction guide may be storedin a memory unit of a mobile terminal. If the preset display periodelapses while the specific interaction guide is being displayed, theelapse of the preset display period may be regarded as a request toremove the control interaction guide from the function execution screen.

As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides adisplay of a control command that may be executed by a user on afunction execution screen of a mobile terminal by displaying the controlinteraction guide on the function execution screen. As a result, a usermay easily manipulate various functions using a touch screen of a mobileterminal.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variation can be made in the present invention withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it isintended that the present invention cover the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. A method of controlling a function of a mobile terminal having atouch screen, comprising: displaying a function execution screen on thetouch screen; displaying a control interaction guide on the functionexecution screen in response to a request to display the controlinteraction guide, the control interaction guide to guide at least onecontrol command to be executed on the function execution screen; anddetermining a control command corresponding to a drag if the drag isdetected on the touch screen; and executing a function corresponding tothe control command on the function execution screen.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the request to display the control interaction guidecomprises an approach to the touch screen.
 3. The method of claim 2,further comprising removing the control interaction guide from thefunction execution screen if a touch on the touch screen is detected. 4.The method of claim 1, wherein the request to display the controlinteraction guide comprises a touch on the touch screen.
 5. The methodof claim 4, further comprising removing the control interaction guidefrom the function execution screen if a drag on the touch screen isdetected.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing thecontrol interaction guide from the function execution screen if a timeperiod for displaying the control interaction guide elapses.
 7. A mobileterminal, comprising; a touch screen comprising a touch panel to detecta drag and drop generated on a function execution screen and a displayunit to display the function execution screen; a control unit to controlthe display unit to display of at least one control interaction guide toguide a control command to be executed on the function execution screenin response to a request to display the control interaction guide, todetermine a control command corresponding to a drag generated on thefunction execution screen, and to execute a function corresponding tothe control command on the function execution screen; and a memory unitto store the control command to be executed on the function executionscreen and the control interaction guide to be displayed on the functionexecution screen.
 8. The mobile terminal of claim 7, further comprisingat least one proximity sensor to detect an approach to the touch screen,wherein the control unit controls the display unit to display of thecontrol interaction guide in response to a detection of an approach bythe proximity sensor while the function execution screen is beingdisplayed.
 9. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the touch screendetects a touch generated on the function execution screen, and thecontrol unit removes the control interaction guide from the functionexecution screen in response to the detection of the touch on the touchscreen.
 10. The mobile terminal of claim 7, wherein the touch screendetects a touch generated on the function execution screen, and thecontrol unit controls the display unit to display of the controlinteraction guide on the function execution screen in response todetection of a touch on the touch screen generated while the functionexecution screen is being displayed.
 11. The mobile terminal of claim10, wherein the control unit causes removal of the control interactionguide from the function execution screen in response to detection of adrag generated on the touch screen while the control interaction guideis being displayed.
 12. The mobile terminal of claim 7, wherein thememory stores a time period to display the control interaction guide tobe displayed on the function execution screen, and the control unitcauses removal of the control interaction guide from the functionexecution screen if the time period to display the control interactionguide elapses while the control interaction guide is being displayed.13. A method of controlling a function of a mobile terminal having atouch screen, comprising: displaying a function execution screen on thetouch screen; searching for a stored control interaction guide if anapproach is detected; displaying the stored control interaction guide ifthe stored control interaction guide exists; stopping the display of thecontrol interaction guide if a touch on the displayed controlinteraction guide is detected; calculating drag characteristic valueswhen a drag is detected; determining a control command corresponding tothe drag characteristic values; and executing a function correspondingto the control command.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the dragcharacteristic values comprise a distance, direction, and velocity ofthe drag.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the control command is azoom-in command, a zoom-out command, a brightness command, or a shotcommand.